West Midlands Police officer Sean Russell named new director of West Midlands Mental Health Commission

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has
approved the two-year secondment of Detective Chief Inspector Sean
Russell to become Implementation Director of the West Midlands
Mental Health Commission.

Improving mental health is a key priority of the Police
and Crime Commissioner and he hopes the appointment will help
deliver on his aims.

As Director of Implementation, Sean Russell will
oversee the delivery of an ambitious action plan which could make a
significant difference to people's lives in the West Midlands. It
will help people with mental ill health stay in employment,
support others get into work, focus on the importance of
good-quality housing, stem the flow of people with mental ill
health into the criminal justice system and improve timely access
to good quality, compassionate care that gives more control to
people.

Perhaps of most importance of all, Sean will lead efforts to
reduce the number of people in our region who tragically take their
own lives.

Police and Crime Commissioner David
Jamieson said: "West Midlands Police has made
huge strides forward to ensure the use of police cells for people
facing mental health crisis has all but ended, and instead people
are conveyed to a suitable health facility.

"In the coming years, I want to see officers and staff
across the public sector trained in mental health first aid,
individual plans for offenders with mental health needs and
increased early intervention and prevention with vulnerable
people.

"I also want to see a big change in schemes designed to help
those with mental health issues back into training or the
workplace.

"The Chief Constable and I have approved the secondment of
Sean Russell to the Mental Health Commission to help deliver on my
aims."

Incoming Director of Implementation Sean
Russell said: "I am pleased to be given the
opportunity to take on this important role for the West
Midlands.

"Over the next two years I will strive to bring people
together to improve awareness and increase interventions that will
help improve mental health across the region.

"I will work with the criminal justice system to improve
outcomes and continue to work with the police and other partners to
make our communities safer.

"Ultimately, I want our communities to know that we are
doing all we can to make sure that mental ill health is being
tackled and people are supported."

Chair of the Mental Health Commission, Norman Lamb
MP added: "I am so thrilled that Sean Russell
has been appointed to this vital role. I was determined to ensure
there was a senior person leading the implementation of the agreed
plan of action that we are developing.

"There's no-one with more credibility in this vital area of
work in this region. In my time in the West Midlands, Sean stands
out as someone who gets things done. He leads from the front and
has strong values. This is a really exciting
appointment."

WMCA lead for mental health Cllr Pete
Lowe said: "I am very pleased the combined
authority has worked so successfully with the police to arrange
this secondment for Sean Russell.

"He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this
role, having played a major part in the police mental health triage
scheme.

"This kind of public sector collaboration reflects the
innovative attitude of the combined authority as well as the mental
health commission's drive to explore better ways of working in this
field."

The Police and Crime Commissioner will contribute one third
of these costs, health partners will contribute a third, and the
final third will be provided by the combined
authority.